The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1887-04-09
SOLDIERS CEMETERY.
THE UNION DEAD THAT WERE
BURIED AT ANoERsoNVILLE, GA.

An Explanation Concerning the Death
Reglster-BeautifuI Appearance OF tho
Cemetery-Graves of the Unidentified.
The Rows of Tonibstones.
Let us turn to the cemetery. This is stu
ated about half mile northeast of the station
at Andersonville, and comprises about twenty
-FOUR acres of beautifully undulating grounds,
with many natural features not to be found
In the spot from which We have Just turned.
The appearance Of the cemetery has been en-
tirely changed since war days Then it was
but rude field. The dead wero buried in
trenches seven feet wide, four feet deep and
from fifty to $50 yards long. No collins were
used, but the twisted, emaciated forms OF the
dead prisoners were laid side by side, ard at
the head Of each was driven a little stake, on
which was painted a number corresponding
to the number of the body on the death regis
ter. The cemetery was a direful necessity,
and no extra pains were taken with it. Not
before June, 1866, was any step taken toward
inclosing the ground and marking the graves
so that they could be identified in the future.
word of explanation respecting the death
register is perhaps necessary that the reader
may see why only 02l out OF 12,I93 lack
identification. When a prisoner died his
comrades reported to the registrar OF the
dead, prisoner appointed for that purpose,
near the wicket at the south gate The
registrar recorded the name, state, regiment
company, rank and date Of death of She dead
man and assigned him a number. Thus each
corpse was numbered, and as they were car
ried out in the dead wagon for burial care
was taken to inter the bodies in order and
mark each with a numbered stake. All this
was done by prisoners detailed for that work.
and hence the care that was exercised.
IDENTIFYING THE GRAVES.
Thus, when James B. Moore. assistant
quartermaster United States army. was ap-
pointed to care temporarily for the dead at
Andersonville, he had no difficulty with the
aid of the registry that had been kept in
identifying most of the graves With Il
force Of several hundred men he proceeded to
lay out walks, fence in the grounds and
mark the graves with painted head boards.
About 10000 feet Of pine boards were thus
used. or course, some stakes had heel re-
moved and some directions on the registry
were imperfect but the care that was taken
is credit TO those who had the matter in
charge.
The work then begun so timely has since
been untiringly kept up. The cemetery now
presents beautiful appearance. The grounds
are nicely laid out and neatly kept The
whole is inclosed by brick wall about five
and half feet high, the plainness of the wall
being relieved by neatly constructed twenty
foot panels which are supported by square
pilasters, the pilasters being carried above the
top course of the wall. The fine iron gates
are always open to visitors, who flock to the
place by hundreds.
From the center of diamond shaped plat
rises flag staff on which the stars and stripes
are to be seen flying from sunrise to sunset,
except in inclement weather. Near by are
stationed couple of cannon, mounted ON
stone bases. From this point radiate four
finely kept avenues, about twenty feet wide;
parallel rows of large water oaks cast on them
an abundant shade; brick cutters on either
side keep them well drained The four Sec
tlons of the cemetery are also well shaded and
beautifully adorned with shrubs and foliage
plants.